Kitchen Countertop Substrate

12 years ago

The local design center has recommended a porcelain tile option for lake cabin KITCHEN countertop. This tile option will replace existing marble tile that is less than a year old. The marble tile has serious etching problems.

I'm not really up to another disaster like what we experienced with the marble tile so I'm asking for feedback on whether this is a viable option based upon the type of use a kitchen countertop receives. The Moh rating on this tile is 5-6. Most information I see when researching porcelain tile is that it is used for flooring or bathroom showers.

My husband and I installed the original marble tile to keep our remodel costs low. I have looked at granite tile options but colors or pattern just don't work with the sliced pebble/river rock backsplash we installed.

Going with a solid countertop such as Cambria, etc...is way more than what we want to spend. I have Cambria in our farm home and love it but for a seasonal lake cabin...just too costly.

What do you think of using porcelain tile for kitchen countertop? I have attached an image of what kitchen looks like now.

I look forward to your feedback. Thanks, Kelly Bode

Featured Answer

PRO

Cure Design Group

12 years ago

To be honest, unless it is honed, or a cashmere finish, you will probably run into the same etching problem as you have with this one...it might be wise to just move forward with the Cambria, it is pricey, but you already know you like it and you wont be replacing it in a year like you are doing now.

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Comments (15)

hayleydaniels
12 years ago
I don't want to offend you, but would you consider putting in a laminate? You can get faux granite in all sorts of patterns in a nice laminate, and the cost is very reasonable. We're going with a laminate countertop in our kitchen reno as we can't justify the expense of granite or quartz.

To see how nice the faux granite laminate looks, check out Formica.com. They have lots of pictures of countertops done in the different products. Also check out Wilsonart.com for more laminates.

I wouldn't go with porcelain tile as you're going to have grout lines that will catch crumbs and gunk.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
12 years ago
If you had etching problems with marble and this gets used a lot I would not go with porcelain. I agree tiles suck on a counter , Formica FX180 is awesome looks exactly like a slab of stone.
kbode8529
Original Author
12 years ago
Cost is a major deciding factor on this project. We need to install ourselves.
- Cambria comes in tile but the edges are not polished and they do not have bullnose.
- Laminate would cost us double what tile will cost because of the corner cut kitchen sink according to quotes I requested from Home Depot and Menards when we first started this project a year ago. Yes, they have beautiful options.

This is a seasonal lake cabin...a double wide trailer home.
msterling
12 years ago
How about painting the cabinets and beadboard white and putting in a double thickness plywood countertop?
santoslhauper
12 years ago
Substrate is the material the tile will be mounted to. Who is building the actual counter the tiles will be mounted to? It is unlikely you will be able to break up the old counter tiles and re-use the substrate. You said you installed the marble tiles, how did you prepare for the install?
As for the question, I'd buy a couple tiles, put some mustard, ketchup, and lime juice on one and set it out in the sun. Drop the other in some coke overnight and see what happens.
lefty47
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
HI -- Because of the backsplash , think about concrete counters , they would be perfect . Not stained - just plain .
PRO
Bayward Builders
12 years ago
Hi Kelly,
Based on the photo, this space (looks) just like a vacation home - porcelain tile would be perfectly suitable for a space like this. Best if you can find a color/pattern that doesn't fight with the tile flooring or the stone splash. If at all possible, make sure to pick a machine cut tile that doesn't have tapered edges (dead flat) and that will tolerate very tight grout joints (1/16") so unevenness, crumbs and stains are non-issues. A warmer toned grey tile that resembles concrete or limestone would help pull together the stone splash and "stone" floor. If you buy a "full-bodied" tile (the clay is a similar color as the glaze and the same color all the way through the tile) you can polish/ease the edges of any cuts and avoid the need/use of trim tiles along the edges. To polish or hone tile, you'll need to buy a diamond polishing pad or two of various grits, a backing pad and an angle grinder if you don't already have one. Examples can be found here (I have no interest in this company - came up first on Google):
http://www.toolocity.com/4-alpha-ceramica-ex-diamond-polishing-pad-200.aspx?gclid=CODs5O7omLwCFaY1QgodSw4AjQ

good luck!
Sam Dewick
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
I'd paint the cabinets white, I think it just might work then, plus a beige wall color.
PRO
sstarr93
12 years ago
You could. Put in a concrete countertop yourselves.
Look at the Cheng concrete site.
s*
RosemaryR
12 years ago
How about butcher block.
brickln
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Personally, I think the river rock has a rustic appeal and I wouldn't be concerned about etching. I'd probably deliberately etch it!
To minimize further damage, the work areas could be protected by silicone mats that are easily stored away. You also could just polish up the marble and put glass over it.
PRO
VT Industries
12 years ago
Take a look at the variety of options we offer for laminate countertops. They take the look of natural surfaces and combines it with the enhanced performance of laminate. Many options that look like granite and stone. www.vtindustries.com Let us know if we can answer any questions!
PRO
User
12 years ago
Porcelain is very non absorbent. Enough so that it is rated for exterior use in freezing climates. A color body porcelain in a large format size would be a good choice for a counter, especially with one of the newer stain proof grouts. The nice thing about color body porcelain is that because the color is all the way through the tile, similar to a natural stone, the cut edges can be polished for the trim pieces. Very often these days tiles don't even come with bullnose trim piece options and a Schluter trim piece isn't always the right choice aesthetically.
PRO
Stoneshop
12 years ago
I agree with baywardbuilders and ProSource Memphis. A porcelain tile is just fine for a kitchen countertop. You do not even need to seal them like you would your current marble tile countertop. Clean-up is a breeze as well. You really will enjoy a porcelain much more than marble. Let us know how it turns out!